Ramsey County

Howdy!!!!!!

What weather we have been having, although it does not sound “pretty” for the weekend.  I am writing this article on Monday, the week prior to publication, as I will not be here on Thursday or Friday and again Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (the week of this publication).  So bear with me, we will get through this article with flying colors.  The beans have been getting harvested with varying results and most reports are “not good”.  A little later in this article I will include an article about green soybeans.

A friend had called last night of my youngest son, Tom, and talked about how the ducks and geese had moved into the state during the daylight hours on Monday.  A huge migration of that nature might indicate some very inclement weather on its way.  We are getting into that season but I am surely not ready for that yet.

This is also another time of year to be getting your yard ready for the winter season ahead.  When mowing your yard for the last time make sure to mow your grass on the short side.  We talk all year about the nesses city of leaving a 2-inch stubble after mowing, but in the fall it is better for your grass to be mowed shorter to alleviate disease problems that can occur over winter. I will also talk a little later in the article about yard care, as well. 

It is also that time of year when the “great hunters” start bringing home their prize and possessions from the days hunt.  If you hunt like myself, that might not be much.  I have had the privilege of my kids taking me hunting and this past Sunday was one of those days.  We saw a ton of birds and did a lot of shooting but by the looks of our freezer it not overflowing.  But when the whole day was done, it is not the amount of game you take home but it is the wonderful morning spent in the field with your kids or friends.  Watching your dog do his thing and admiring how ducks can fly so easily through the air and how amazingly fast they put their brakes on and settle down into a field or slough.  Except for getting up at a ridiculous time in the morning, it is a great time.  Enough for rambling on and back to the subject as hand.

Taking care of your game from the field to table is the most important part of preparing your game for the table.  Later in the article you will find a few useful tips for that great dinner feast.

Immature Soybeans??????????

 While we had ample rains this summer the warm days did not cooperate creating some soybean fields that will not be harvested or leaving a grain sample with many green beans.  Depending on the maturity of the green bean some may lighten up over time but very likely the majority will not change much color from the green appearance in that first sample.  The discounts that are common in the U.S.  (keep in mind, grain elevators will very likely vary in discounts) use 4 different grade structures.  A U.S #1, will allow up to 2.0% damage, #2 will allow 3.0% damage, #3 will allow up to 5.0% damage and #4 will allow up to 8.0% damage. 

One thing to remember, green beans that appear dry are a “snicky” wet.  Always put dry green beans in a bin with aeration.  They will need monitoring for many months.

Another alternative for green beans would be for livestock feed.  A beef cow can consume green soybeans but always remember to sample your beans before feeding for nutritional values.  For further questions either stop by for coffee or give us a call at the Extension Office (701-662-7027).

 Preparing your birds for the freezer??????

• Freeze meat while fresh.
• Packaging bird parts instead of whole bird helps in the removal of bloody spots.
• Use moisture/vapor- proof wrap to help prevent freezer burn.
• Remove as much air as possible from the packaging.
• LABEL packages
• Use frozen packages within a year.

Mowing Your Yard??????

For a newly seeded lawn, mow the grass when it reaches 3 inches in height. It should be cut back to two inches. Grass growing in stress areas such as shade and dry, sunny slopes can be grown longer.

Before mowing your lawn, make sure that the blade on your mower is sharp. Dull blades fray the leaf tips turning them brown. Dull mowers also take more power and fuel to operate.

There is a disease that can be prevented by mowing your lawns in the fall.  Late fall your lawn should be mowed to a shorter level than throughout the normal growing season to help prevent Snow Mold.  Snow mold diseases do not occur every year on lawns, but are most apt to occur in a year when an early and deep snow cover prevents the ground from freezing. A cold open winter will not promote snow mold on lawns but may cause winter injury, with patches of grass dying because the crowns were killed by freezing and/or drying (desiccation).

Proper lawn management will reduce the danger of snow molds. Management practices include keeping the lawn mowed in the fall so that there is no thick mat of grass for the snow molds to develop on. Lawn areas where snow molds occur should not be heavily fertilized in late summer or early fall. A late fall application of fertilizer (after October 15) will not promote lush growth

and snow mold. Snow molds do not occur often enough on lawns to merit a fall application of fungicide as a preventive measure unless there is a history of snow mold. When snow mold is observed in the spring it is usually too late to apply fungicide.  Typhula Blight normally continues development for only a few days after the snow is gone. Fusarium Patch can develop longer, following snow melt, especially when cold rain or late spring snow is expected. The application of a fungicide might prevent additional damage from Fusarium Patch but is seldom recommended.

524 4th Ave #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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